The main reason why I believe Vietnam is the perfect solo adventure, is because there is so much contained within a small country. As there is so much to do, I recommend giving yourself 3-4 weeks in Vietnam, and I guarantee you will be left heart-broken at the prospect of having to pack up and leave. The stunning country has most beautiful people you’ll ever meet, mouth-wateringly tasty food, and the incredible sights and rich history. To provide context, my backpacking journey started in the Ho Chi Mihn City (in the far south), and I worked my way upwards to the capital Hanoi (in the north of the country).
The Fairy Stream and Red/white Sand Dunes of Mũi Né:
Mũi Né was my first stop outside of Ho Chi Mihn City. This gorgeous little beach town on the east coast of Vietnam can simply be described as paradise. The Fairy Stream located near Mũi Né is an extremely peaceful experience. Here, you can observe the natural beauty of the small canyons, waterfall, and jungle trees, with the satisfying feeling of the warm water running along your feet. The stroll will take just over an hour if done slowly, and it is a walk which I found to be highly relaxing- the perfect remedy to calm your mind during your jampacked backpacking retreat.
The area of Mũi Né is also famous for its Red and White Sand Dunes. Exploring these was great fun, however it can be quite tiring. Instead of walking, I’d recommend hiring quad bikes to ride around the dunes on. On my adventure, I found the sand dunes much bigger than I’d anticipated. However, once you reach the top, they were extremely satisfying to run/slide down.
Vietnam Backpacker Hostels:
I cannot stress enough the importance of the Vietnam Backpacker Hostels for this trip. The company offers 8 hostel locations across all of Vietnam, which made planning my route so much easier. This meant I’d travel to a hostel, plan what I wanted to do in that area, and then move onto to the next hostel when I was ready. It was also great for seeing the familiar faces of people I’d met earlier in the trip- the hostels provided a perfect opportunity to meet new people and make new friends.
My favourite hostel I stayed at was the Ninhvana resort located in Nihn Van Bay (roughly in the middle of Vietnam). For roughly £5 a night, I was able to stay in most scenic resort I have ever come across in my life. Offering sporting facilities, 2 gorgeous swimming pools, a bar and social area which served delicious food, they also had an outside movie projector where I watched several films and world cup games, and even a private beach attached to the side of the hostel.
Another hostel I loved visiting was the hostel in Mui Ne. As this was only the second hostel I visited, it was a perfect welcoming to Vietnam. The hostel was extremely picturesque- from palm trees which covered the entirety of the grounds, to cute thatched gazebos with comfy seating that provided a perfect opportunity for mingling, and even atmospheric lighting and music in the evening times. Throughout the day, backpackers would gather around the large swimming pool to chat, sunbathe and even play water volleyball (which I became a master at). Beyond daytime, there was no dull evening at the Mui Ne hostel. The hostel was equipped with a games area where I’d play pool and table tennis. There was also a great opportunity to party and play drinking games.
Ha Long Bay
In my opinion, Ha Long Bay is the most essential ‘must see’ in all of Vietnam. If you aren’t familiar with Ha Long Bay, it is a marvellous spread of 1,600 Islands across the Gulf of Tonkin in North Vietnam. The Views in Ha Long Bay are astonishing, as every Island has its own unique qualities, and the tunnels and caves are amazing to Kayak through. If you want a livelier experience, I recommend the Castaway Tour. Castaway is a 2-day party on one of the Ha Long Bay Islands. At Castaway, you can participate in a range of activities: banana boating, cliff climbing/jumping, boat party tours, evening social events, and you can even take the provided Kayaks out at your own free will. Beyond this, you will get included buffet style meals (which are delicious), and you will meet some amazing people. Castaway is certainly a great time, and arguably my favourite 2 days on the whole trip. The experience feels almost summer camp like. On arrival, you are assigned a beach hut where you sleep in bunk beds and are woken up to the sound of a gong at 7am for breakfast. Please be aware however that if you are looking to relax, Castaway is not for you. You will leave feeling exhausted, as the quality of sleep in the sand filled bunks isn’t particularly ideal, and the partying can continue into the early hours of the morning.
Travel
Although a very simple pleasure, one of my favourite parts of my Vietnam trip was the transportation. As I was moving so frequently, hours of my trip were spent on public transport which I strangely found to be extremely enjoyable. Vietnam has night buses where the chairs recline like beds, which made for an extremely comfortable journey. These buses provided a great opportunity to catch up on sleep during my busy schedule and are equipped with Wi-Fi and plug sockets to charge devices. The train journeys were just as enjoyable as the bus trips. On the train, myself and some fellow travellers were given our own cabin with bunk beds in a single-track train ride which ran across the beautiful Vietnamese countryside. As someone who normally dislikes travelling overnight on transport, it was surprisingly a pleasure in Vietnam. I’d recommend, however, bringing a travel pillow, as the ones provided lacked any neck support. If you are light sleeper, take advantage of the incredible views the journey has to offer through the picturesque countryside. Sleep can wait, views like that cannot. Bikes were also an important part of my journey for the busier parts of Vietnam. Bike tours were extremely easy to find, you’ll see bike shops regularly across the cities. However, biking can sometimes be dangerous in Vietnam’s travel climate, so make sure you always wear protective gear.
Abandoned Waterpark
One of the most interesting parts of my trip was a visit to the abandoned water park in Hue (located in central Vietnam). I visited the waterpark as part of a Hue bike tour which also included a trip to the Tiger and Elephant Arena and gave me important insight into the battle of Hue. If an opportunity arises to be involved in one of these tours, please do consider it.
Not much is known about the waterpark, however we were told it started construction in 2004, and the builders had to cease construction due to a lack of funding. What remains is a magnificent, yet eerie sight. The park was clearly anticipated to be quite spectacular, as it covers a large amount of ground. During my trip, I got to explore different parts of the park, including the show pools, water slides which I was able to walk down, and the dragon lookout tower. Freely exploring a place like this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, so I’d recommend taking advantage of this.
Street food and markets
A common part of my solo travels involved regularly exploring the unique markets that can be found across Vietnam. I spent hours of my trip exploring the endless market rows, where I’d purchase random knick-knacks that I had no purpose for, yet I’d decided I couldn’t leave without. Unfortunately, I’m a very easy person to sell to, which resulted in me having to leave several of the items I purchased behind when I went home- including my beloved and well loved selfie stick.
My favourite market experience was the weekend night markets in Hanoi. Here, the roads are closed off on every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night, where locals and tourists are free to roam the markets; open between 7pm-11pm. The stalls will include a range of clothing, jewellery, handcrafted items and other souvenirs. When you enter, you will instantly be hit with the stunning smell of fresh Vietnamese cooking, before noticing many foods stands which tempt you into trying a beautiful selection of food. If you are lucky enough to come across any stands which sell fresh spring rolls (known as Goi cuon) please take advantage of this, as they’re delicious. Throughout the markets, you will also get the opportunity to experience live entertainment like street bands and magicians, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to listen to a live Vietnamese band play, which was a great experience.
Overall, I couldn’t recommend backpacking solo around Vietnam more. The culture, sights, experience, food and friendships I curated along the way will forever remain fond in my heart. If you are currently deciding where to go, please greatly consider Vietnam. You will not regret it!
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The Lone Traveller 